Israeli air strikes kill over 40 in Gaza as blockade deepens humanitarian crisis

New Delhi, May 15: More than 40 people have been killed in the latest wave of Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip, according to hospital officials. At least 36 bodies were reported to have been taken to hospitals in southern Gaza, where nine separate sites were hit during a night of heavy bombardment.

Further north, the Israeli military ordered evacuations in parts of Gaza City, warning that it would strike the area “with intense force.” The escalation comes amid a continuing blockade on humanitarian aid, which has left the enclave cut off from essential supplies for over ten weeks. Since early March, Israel has blocked all shipments of food, medical supplies, and other humanitarian aid from entering Gaza.

The siege has drawn international criticism, including from the United Nations, which has warned of a “critical risk” of famine for the 2.1 million people trapped in the territory.

A UN-backed food security assessment released on Monday painted a grim picture: nearly one in five residents, around half a million people, are now facing starvation.

The report also projected that approximately 71,000 children under the age of five are likely to become acutely malnourished in the coming year, up to April 2026. Humanitarian groups have condemned the blockade, calling it a potential war crime and accusing Israel of using starvation as a method of warfare, an allegation Israel strongly denies.